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(No Model.) I

' V. W. A. RIOHARDS.

SHAFT CARRIER.

No. 345,922. Patented July 20, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VALENTINE WV. A. RICHARDS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO JOSEPH BALTES, OF SAME PLACE.

SHAFT-CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 345,922, dated July 20,1886.

Application filed February 2, 1886.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be itknown that I, VALENTINE V. A. Rron- Aims, of Minneapolis, in thecounty of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certainImprovements in Shaft-Carriers; and

I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same.

My invention relates to improvements in shaft or thill carriers forharnesses; and it conro sists in providing or attaching to the harness areceptacle or holder for the end of the vehicle-shaft, which is arrangedto receive the said shaft as it is brought down from a position over theback of the animal or above the I 5 carrier.

My invention also consists in the combination and arrangementhereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings which form part of this speci- 2o :iication, Figure l isa front elevation of my improvement, showing the carrier in the positionassumed when in use. Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing the carrier ina position to receive the shaft. Fig. 3 is a side elevation,

and Fig. 4c is a detail.

2 represents the upper section of the carrier, and is composed of metaland attached by means of the back-straps 3 to the harnesssaddle. Thelower part of section 2 is at an 0 angle to the upper part, as shown.Two projecting loops receive the strap, and the pin 7 holds it in anyrequired position. 8 is the lower section of the carrier, and is made inthe form of a hook, as shown in Fig. 1, and

attached to the upper section, 2, by means of the hinge-joint 9. The lip10 is formed upon its outer end, and engages with a corresponding lipupon the upper section, to act as a stop.

11 represents a loop formed upon the back of the section 8, to receivethe ends of the gilt-straps 13. This loop is formed tapering toward thebottom, as shown in Fig. 4. The end of the girt-strap is turned over andfastened, making a wedge-shaped end, which fits into the loop 11. Thisholds the straps l3 firmly in the direction of the strain, but allows itto be readily removed from the carriers, if desired. It will be seenthat before Serial No. 190,620. (No model.)

the ends of the girt-straps are fastened together the lower section, 8,of the carrier may be placed in the position shown in Fig. 2, ready toreceive the shaft, and the weight of the shaft as it comes in contactwith the section will carry it downward until the lip strikes the uppersection, 2, and by fastening the two ends of the girt 13 together it isheld firmly in this position, or the weight of the shaft above issufficient to hold the carrier closed.

This carrier makes an attachment of great utility for any harness, aswith it the thills or shafts can be raised high enough for the animal tocome under them, and then dropped into the carriers without thenecessity of entering the ends of the shafts into the carriers. 6

The carrier is very simple in construction, and hence is inexpensive,and it is also very durable.

1 form the carrier of metal, and it may be covered with leather, rubber,or other suitable material.

The carrier will receive a shaft of any form, either straight orcrooked, and as it closes automatically there is no possibility of theshaft getting out until the horse is unharnessed, when the carrier willslip off the end of the shaft in the usual way.

I claim as my invention 1. The shaft-carrier comprising the uppersection, 2, having its lower part at an angle s to the upper part, andthe lower hook-shaped section, 8, hinged to the upper section,substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, in a shaft-carrier,of the S 5 section 2, having itslower part at an angle to the upper part, as described, means forsecuring said section to the back-strap,and the hookshaped section 8,hinged to said section 2, and having the tapering loop 11, adapted tore- 6 ceive the end of the girt-strap, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day ofJanuary, 1886.

VALENTINE V. A. RICHARDS.

In presence of A. 0. PAUL, R. H. SANFORD.

